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New Research

Catoctin Furnace in Cunningham Falls State Park, Maryland

DNA Links 42,000 Living People to Enslaved and Free African Americans Buried in Maryland

The research, initiated by the local African American community, could be a roadmap for future genealogy studies

Waves along Californa's Central Coast are now a foot taller than they were before 1970.

California’s Waves Are Getting Bigger With Climate Change

Storms that produce massive swells are also occurring more frequently as the planet warms, a new study suggests

The meat allergy is linked to bites from the lone star tick, most commonly found in the southeastern, south-central and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.

A Meat Allergy Linked to Tick Bites May Be Increasing in the U.S., CDC Report Finds

As many as 450,000 people may have the potentially life-threatening condition, with thousands of those cases undiagnosed, the agency estimates

Researchers think that servants maintained the site year round, while royals only came to Machu Picchu during the dry season.

New Research

Servants at Machu Picchu Came From Distant Corners of the Inca Empire

The city’s servant class was a genetically diverse community, according to a new study of ancient DNA

Rats make a high-pitched sound similar to laughter when they're being tickled.

Tickling Rats Reveals a Brain Region Linked to Laughter and Play

This group of neurons could someday inform the treatment of depression and anxiety in humans, scientists say

A woman with long Covid, suffering symptoms including extreme fatigue and brain fog, rests on her couch on February 3, 2022.

Long Covid’s Brain Fog Is Akin to ‘Aging Ten Years,’ Study Finds

Scientists tested the cognitive function of more than 3,000 participants and found those with longer-lasting Covid symptoms had the strongest decline

The Los Angeles thread millipede (Illacme socal)

New 486-Legged Millipede Species Found Near Los Angeles

The discovery by two naturalists demonstrates that unknown creatures can lie “right below our feet”

The grave held a sword, usually buried with men, as well as a mirror, usually buried with women.

New Research

Iron Age Warrior Buried With a Sword and Mirror Was a Woman, Study Says

The unusual burial on a small island off of England sheds new light on women’s role in Iron Age warfare

Permafrost melts into the Kolyma River outside of Zyryanka, Russia, in 2019. The worms in the new study seem to have survived buried deep in the permafrost for tens of thousands of years.

Scientists Revive 46,000-Year-Old Roundworms From Siberian Permafrost

The nematodes had survived in a state of slowed metabolism called cryptobiosis, according to a new paper

The abdomens of Australian honeypot ants can swell to hold honey that the colony uses as a food source when stores run low. 

Honey Made by Ants Could Protect Against Bacteria and Fungi

Australian honeypot ants create and store a sugary substance that may kill microbes, per a new paper that aligns with Indigenous knowledge

Fork-tailed drongos have a signature color and pattern on their eggs, which helps them avoid getting duped by African cuckoos.

How These Birds Can Spot Look-Alike ‘Imposter’ Eggs in Their Nests

Fork-tailed drongos can identify and reject egg forgeries, laid by African cuckoos, with nearly 94 percent accuracy, new research suggests

Researchers found evidence of eight different spices on 12 stone tools at the Óc Eo archaeological complex in southern Vietnam.

Archaeologists Uncover Oldest Evidence of ‘Curry’ Outside of India

Ancient spice processing in Southeast Asia reveals an early trade of ingredients for dishes that Westerners often call “curry”

Nonprofits and policymakers are trying to balance tourism and outdoor recreation with conservation efforts at Lake Tahoe.

Lake Tahoe’s Clear Water Is Brimming With Tiny Plastics

The pristine lake has a higher concentration of microplastics than the water near some floating garbage patches in the oceans, according to a new study

An orca mother travels alongside her son. Older orca females past their reproductive years often lead their pods on hunts.

Aging Mother Orcas Keep Their Sons Out of Fights

In a new study, male orcas with mothers that had gone through menopause showed less tooth scarring on their fins compared to other males

Scientists found that sending electricity into a brain region called the anterior precuneus created sensations of floating.

Have Scientists Found the Source of Out-of-Body Experiences?

Researchers identified a brain region that can create sensations of weightlessness or falling, and it could help develop new forms of anesthesia

Alessandro Rotta Loria and a student in his lab walk through a train tunnel beneath the Chicago Loop.

Chicago May Be Slowly Sinking Because of ‘Underground Climate Change’

The ground beneath the Windy City is shifting as heat escapes from buildings and transit systems, posing a threat to infrastructure, a study finds

The dinosaur and mammal engaged in a final tussle.

Rare Fossil May Show a Small Mammal Attacking a Dinosaur

The well-preserved bones could upend the traditional view of dinosaurs as predators and mammals as prey, if the findings are confirmed

Researchers estimate the states with the highest rates of Alzheimer's disease are Maryland, New York and Mississippi.

Here’s Where the Highest Rates of Alzheimer’s Are in the United States

A first-of-its-kind report estimates Alzheimer’s disease prevalence in 3,142 counties across the nation

A lightsheet used to reveal hidden text in a manuscript of William Camden's Annals

Cool Finds

Hidden for 400 Years, Censored Pages Reveal New Insights Into Elizabeth I’s Reign

Scholars used advanced imaging to read crossed-out, pasted-over passages in the first official account of the Tudor queen’s time on the English throne

A southern Pacific rattlesnake. Previous studies had found examples of companionship reducing stress in birds and mammals, but not reptiles.

Having a Companion Could Help Rattlesnakes Stay Calm

During a stressful event, snakes experienced a smaller spike in heart rate when they were in the presence of another snake, according to a new study

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